Henry ziegler



H. ZIEGLER. UPRIGHT PIA-N0.

Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

INVENTO/ /w/ ATTO YS.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEFICE.

HENRY ZEGLER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

UPRIGHT PlANG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,257, dated January 8, 1895.

Application filed September 25,1894. Serial No. 524,078. (No model) To LZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ZIEGLEE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upright Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of upright pianos, by which the wrest-plank is suspended and separated from the sounding-board support, so as not to press on the sounding-board and impair the free vibrations ofthe same. Heretofore the wrest-plank pressed directly on the support of the sounding-board, which was unavoidable for the reason that the string-traine and wrest-plank had to be bolted down on to the supporting` main frame so as to be able to resist the strain of the strings. By using a string-frame of the construction shown in my Patents Nos. 509,110 and 509,111, dated November 21, 1893, am at liberty to change the construction in such a manner that the wrestplank can be separated or isolated from the sounding-board support and held suspended, so to say, by the wrest-plank portion of the string-frame, which latter, taken for itself, possesses suflicient strength to take up and resist the combined strain of the strings without depending upon its connection with the wrest-plank and main frame.

For this purpose myinvention consists of a string-frame provided with backwardly-extending lugs at its upper end and a wrestplank that is separated from the main frame and supported in suspended position by the same.

The invention consists, further, of the coinbination in an upright piano, of the supporting main frame, a string-frame provided with backWardly-extending lugs, a wrestplank supported by said string-frame and separated from the main frame, and means for attaching the lugs of the string-frame to the supporting main frame, as will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the stringframe and main frame of my improved upright piano. Fig. 2 is a top-view of Fig. 1, showing the connection of the string-frame with the supporting main frame. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section, ou line 3 3, Fig. i", drawn on a larger scale and showing the connection of the string-frame with the supporting frame and the suspended wrest-plank, and Figs. el. and 5 are also vertical transverse sections, showing modifications.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a' string-frame for upright pianos,which is made of cast-steel or other suitable material and of that class in which the wrest-plank and hitchpin portions are cast integrally. The wrestplauk portion ofthe string-frame A is provided at its upper edge with backwardly-extending lugs ay a, which extend over the wrestplank B and over the top part ot the main traine C.

r1`he wrest-plank B is supported on a backwardly-extending liauge l) ofthe string-frame A and is attached to the upper or wrest-plank portion ofthe string-frame in the usual manner with screws.

Between the wrest-plank B and the main frame C is left a space by which the wrestplank is separated or isolated from the main frame and suspended in such a manner that the string-frame and wrest-plank are clear of the main-frame and do not exert any downward pressure on the sounding-board support as shown in Fig. 3. It is therefore possible to make the string-frame strong enough for resisting the strain of the strings, independently of its connection with the wooden braces of the main-frame, and to apply to some extent the construction of the grand piano to the upright piano by suspending the entire wrest-plank portion from end to end.

The lugs a may be connected in different ways with the top portion of the main frame by making a direct connection of the lugs by fastening-screws d d with the main frame C, as in Fig. 3; second, by leaving a space between the lugs and the top portion of the main frame and driving in Wedge-pieces CZ', as in Fig. 4; third, by letting the lugs ot rest against dowels or tenons d2, which project from the top portion of the main frame. The sides and bottom ot' the string-trame are attached in the usual manner t-o the sides and bottom of the main frame.

n all the different constructions by which IOO the lugs 0f the string-frame are connected with the Wooden main frame, the fasteningscrews d are passed through the lugs into the top portion of the main frame. The lugs a are preferably arranged vertically above the braces of the main frame, so as to press on the ends of the same. Asmaller number of lugs may, however, be used, or a larger number, or even a continuous flange, that extends over the top portion of the main frame, the main object being to regulate the pressure of the lugs on the main frame, so as to control the compression of the entire structure which supports the sounding-board Without pressing at certain points on the support of the sounding-board.

By suspending the Wrest-plank in the manner described it is separated from and placed out of contact With that part of the main frame which supports the sounding-board, so as not to restrain it from vibrating freely. Consequently the tone of the piano becomes fuller and more sonorous, so as to resemble in character that produced by the grand piano.

Another advantage of my improved suspended Wrest-plank and the connection of the string-frame with the main frame is that thereby the entire main frame is fully brought Within the string-frame, the string-frame being connected in the usual manner at the sides and bottom With the main frame and the top-lugs lapping over the top portion of the main frame, compressing the latter thereby and rendering it better adapted to give a rigid support for the sounding-board.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, in an upright piano, with a supporting main frame, of a stringframe provided With backWardly-extending lugs lapping` over the top portion of the main frame and a suspended Wrest-plank attached to the upper portion ot the string-frame and separated from the main frame, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in an upright piano, With the supporting main frame, of a stringframe provided with baclmvardly-extending lugs at its upper edge lapping over the top portion of the main frame, a suspended wrestplank attached to the string-frame and separated from the top portion of the main frame, and means for connecting the lugs of the string-frame to the top portion of the main frame, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a supporting main frame, a string-frame provided with back- Wardly-extending lugs, a wrest-plank attached to the upper portion of the string-frame and separated from the top portion of the main frame, means for connecting the lugs of the string-frame to the top portion of the main frame, and means for fastening the stringframe at its sides and bottom to the main frame, so as to impart in connection with the top-lugs a compression to the entire main frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my naine in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY ZIEGLER.

Witnesses:

PAUL' GoEPEL, J UAN C. ABEL. 

